On Being A Reflection by Tracy Williamosn

I still occasionally get hand written letters and amazingly still write them too!  As I am visually impaired receiving a handwritten letter is something of a mixed blessing because of the struggle of managing to read it. Nevertheless, I love it because it makes me feel more connected to the person who sent it and I feel very privileged to read something that they've taken the time to write. As soon as the envelope is in my hands I start to formulate insights about the writer.  I've not even opened it yet but I quite quickly ascertain if they are an older or younger person, complex or simplistic, dramatic or cool and factual.  The very style makes that letter a reflection of the sender's character. 

Thinking about this made me wonder how much our 'bigger'  writing - articles, stories, poems, devotionals, books etc, reveals?  What is the hidden text, the secret message that lies behind those stories, themes, written words and the way they are put together? 

 In 2 Corinthians 3\;2 Paul makes an amazing parallel between writing letters and being transparent in our faith: 'You show that you are a letter from Christ . . . known and read by everyone.' Well, if I am a letter from Christ then I must also be that letter in the whole of my life including in my writing.

That draws me to another question, why do I write? What has led me to be someone who picks up a notebook and pen, or opens a blank screen on my computer? 

I find its really important to have a vision, not just for an individual book or article but for why I write at all.  Without a sense of vision my writing might look like a hotchpotch of ideas.  They may all be good and lovely, but where will they ultimately lead the reader?  For me, as someone whose writing is very specifically about God, my aim is primarily to be an encourager and up-builder  of other Christians.  I want people to not just discover who I am, but to get a glimpse of who God is and what He is like.  What His love looks like , how He heals our hearts and brings comfort and change.  So as my vision is to encourage and upbuild, that then impacts on my choices of not just what I write but how I write it.  I want my reader to feel comforted, inspired, hopeful, restored and challenged.  So if I write a devotional I will choose themes that will fulfil that 'inner' brief.  As yet I haven't written a novel or long piece of fiction but I would love to.  So how would my hidden vision affect my choice of story, theme and how that theme is developed? I would love to think that my writing was drawing readers not just to see who I am, but who God is.  This all impacts on the things I include and how they are described or worded. Will they be a true reflection of the beauty of the Lord and His work in our lives?  How do I tell stories?  Do they have an ambience of hope or hopelessness, of shame and blame or love and forgiveness?  If I am a detailed, logical person like Dr Luke who write the gospel of Luke, will my writing have the kind of detail expressed that inspires my reader to delve deeper into that subject?  Or will it stop at the point of revealing that I myself am a person with certain knowledge? Luke's Gospel is my favourite because of the richness of his explorations into Jesus' life and how He connected with people.  His gifts of methodical research for the truth created exciting stories that draw us into God's heart.  I long that in everything I write, whether a letter, an email, an article, devotional or book, that through my choices of theme, focus and expression my reader will grow in their heart picture of God.  A thrilling, daunting yet awesome challenge.

Tracy Williamson is an author and speaker working with blind singer/songwriter Marilyn Baker for MBM Trust a ministry of music, teaching and prayer.  Tracy's latest book Unashamed about inner transformation will be published in Sept 23.